My Love/Hate Relationship with the Library

        I have a love/hate relationship with the public library right now!  Of course I love the library,  doesn't everyone love the library?  I brought my kids up going to the library.  I love to make the library one of my field trip destinations for my students.  I love browsing and holding the books in my hands.
    So what is the problem?  When I am working full time, I find that the library books are just one more thing I have to keep track of or more likely not.  I have read so many partial books in order to get them back on time.  I have also racked up library fines because I forgot to return books.  Several years ago I gave up and stopped using the library.
     Summer is a different "story" however.  I do think the library is a great way to save money on books, so in this summer of savings I have been giving the library a try again.  First I had update my card.  Then, I had to pay off the $39 in fines that were still on it!  Then I could finally look up the book I wanted.  It was in the system and on the shelf.  I checked it out.  Being that it is summer, I read it within days and returned the book well within the allotted time.
    Today I went back to the library with 3 tittles I wanted to look for.  The library had 2 out of the 3 in their system.  Of the 2 in the system both were checked out and had multiple holds on for when the books were returned.  I left with nothing.
   Here is my conclusion:  For me right now the library is a great summer resource to check for a title before I purchase a book.  Sometimes it will work out and sometimes not.  Since my reading time is limited, I want to read WHAT I want to read WHEN I want to read it!  After checking the library I will purchase books with no guilt!  This is an area of my life I am willing to splurge in.

 Money Saved:  1-3 books a summer, $30-$45
*except this summer when I had to pay fees -$39 

 THE BEST:  When my brother brings me books from a used book sale or something he has read recently and says "I think you might like this one"!  .....and I usually do....

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